Spain Signals Palestine State Recognition Amid Diplomatic Push
Spain is advancing toward recognizing Palestine as a state with clear, concrete steps. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has set a deadline to present the move to Parliament within this legislative term. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated the decision as a completed matter during a press briefing in Amman, Jordan, alongside Jordan’s foreign minister. He asserted that the recognition will be carried out in a solemn and official manner.
Albares emphasized that the move is not an ideological stance but a matter of justice. He argued that recognizing Palestine as a real state is essential to ensure its viability and future existence as a member of the international community. He added that such a step also serves Israel’s security and contributes to peace and stability in the Middle East.
Historically, in 2014 Parliament approved a non-binding motion urging the government to recognize Palestine as a state. At that time, leaders agreed to pursue any action in coordination with the international community, particularly the European Union. The current government in Madrid appears ready to proceed either unilaterally or with a small group of European partners, such as Ireland or Belgium. This approach reflects sensitivities among Israel’s allies, including Germany and Austria, and the vetoes from some Eastern European states like Hungary on recent Brussels accords related to a ceasefire or sanctions against radical settlers.
In a related development, the foreign minister highlighted Spain’s additional support for UNRWA, the UN agency serving Palestinian refugees, by contributing 33 million euros since December. Several countries have halted contributions following allegations that some UNRWA staff collaborated with Hamas in the October 7 attacks. After scrutiny of the confessions and the credibility of some intelligence claims, as well as an internal probe by UNRWA, the European Union, Canada, and Sweden have chosen to maintain their funding commitments.
Albares confirmed cooperation with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to seek ways to halt the conflict. Both ministers underscored the urgency of a ceasefire and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza so Palestinians can avoid further casualties from bombing and hunger. Jordan hosts two of the six million Palestinian refugees displaced by past wars.
The Spanish foreign minister also noted ongoing discussions with Brussels and Washington to advance these efforts, though he did not disclose details about the scope of those conversations.
So far in Gaza’s offensive, more than 31,000 Palestinians have died, including about 13,500 children. These figures, highlighted by Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, underline the human impact rather than mere statistics. Lazzarini described the toll as a life-and-death crisis that must stop, urging that troops not be spared and that the fighting end soon.
Safadi echoed the call to halt the war, criticizing both Israel and the international community for not doing enough to protect civilians. He warned that the world cannot stand by as women and children lose their lives in Gaza.
This latest diplomatic mission marks Albares’ third trip to the broader Middle East, following visits to Lebanon, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. He has not yet been received in Israel. Alongside his Jordanian counterpart, Albares met with King Abdullah II and visited a UNRWA refugee camp. In Egypt, he planned policy discussions with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, and with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League.